In the inaugural U.S. Governors Cup Robotics Tournament last weekend, a Laramie County 4-H team brought Wyoming youth into the national spotlight, highlighting the state’s dedication to excellence in science and technology.
Chaperoned by 4-H volunteers, four members of the Laramie County Circuit Breakers team, ages 15 through 18, traveled to Washington, D.C., to compete in the two-day competition Friday, Feb. 20, through Saturday, Feb. 21.
“[The] Governors Cup has been a blast,” says Mason York, a Laramie County 4-H member from Cheyenne. “Seeing teams from across the country brings energy and vastly different approaches to robotics and it gave me tons of ideas for future robots.”
The Governors Cup tournament, organized in partnership with FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and Experiential Robotics, brought together one team from each state across the country, each selected by their governor.
The Circuit Breakers, chosen by Governor Mark Gordon to represent Wyoming, were the only 4-H team to compete.
“For us to be able to go as a 4-H team, it’s not just about competition, it’s about who we are as a state,” says Laramie County 4-H volunteer Hannah Fields. “We’re promoting all of these ideals that are important to Wyoming and foundational to our success as state, including Wyoming STEM.”
She and her husband, Matt Fields, serve as coaches and mentors for the 51 Wyoming 4-H members who belong to Laramie County’s seven Circuit Breakers teams.
Wyoming 4-H, administered by the University of Wyoming Extension, empowers young people to develop lifelong leadership skills through project-based learning with the support of dedicated volunteers like the Fields.
While its agricultural roots remain strong, Wyoming 4-H has expanded to help young people explore STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields and, ultimately, contribute to Wyoming’s growing STEM workforce.
In Laramie County, the Fields are leading the charge, donating their time, technological expertise, and logistics skills to create opportunities for budding computer scientists and programmers.
“The Circuit Breakers are a great example of how the 4-H program helps youth gain hands-on experience with STEM skills,” says Matt Helie, associate director of UW Extension. “It is truly impressive to watch the group work to program and operate their robots. This type of program aligns perfectly with 4-H’s national ‘Beyond Ready’ initiative, with the goal of helping youth to become ready for their future careers.”
Under the mentorship of Hannah and Matt Fields, the Laramie County Circuit Breakers have competed in nine national competitions in the past five years. In true Wyoming fashion, some team members travel up to an hour and a half each way to participate in robotics practice three times a week.
“Competition gets students interested, but on the real-world side, the value long term for our state is exciting,” Hannah Fields comments. “The goal is to get these kids jobs in Wyoming—to make Wyoming better, and to make the better best.”
In addition to support from Wyoming 4-H, the Circuit Breakers partner with the 9H Research Foundation based in Laramie and SkillsUSA Wyoming, among other organizations. To learn more about the Circuit Breakers, visit wyomingrobots.com.
To learn more about Wyoming 4-H, which is offered in every Wyoming county and on the Wind River Indian Reservation, visit www.uwyo.edu/4-h or contact a local extension office.
